Known as the “city of lights,” Las Vegas was once illuminated by the glow from an atomic explosion that occurred in the Nevada desert. Only 65 miles from Sin City, the US Army started testing nuclear weapons in 1951.
The sky was illuminated by the bombs’ glow at night, and during the day, mushroom clouds could be seen emerging over the horizon.
Fear was not the only response in traditional American fashion. A specific group of individuals began to travel to Vegas: Nuclear Tourists.
To understand why Nevada was chosen for nuclear testing, let’s go back in time. The Nevada Yucca Flats were the ideal location for nuclear testing because they were situated in the middle of the American wasteland. First of all, because it was in the middle of a desert, there were very few dangers to the houses nearby.
In addition, the federal government owns more than 87% of Nevada. It boasted plenty of open space, pleasant weather, and well-connected rail systems.
For those who did reside in this area, the nuclear detonations served as a source of spectacles and entertainment. Consequently, Vegas witnessed a surge in the number of visitors from all over the nation who would journey great distances to witness this novel performance.
Not too long after, the 25,000-person city of Las Vegas was transformed into the internationally recognized spectacle of three million people.
As news outlets worldwide jumped on this novel and thrilling development, atomic tourism quickly rose to the top of the headlines. It was even coined as “the non-ancient but nonetheless honorable pastime of atom-bomb watching” by New York Times writers.
Vegas was built from the ground up for showmanship. By hiding the person from all indications of time and place, visitors are urged to appreciate the present and concentrate on what is in front of them.
Their credo is to focus on what’s in front of you. Landowners and business owners started using this idea to their advantage by making these tests into public displays of their own personas.
The times and dates of these tests were publicized beforehand by the Vegas Chamber of Commerce. Months in advance, calendars and announcements from the community would be released, allowing visitors to make plans and take in the sight of the mushroom cloud.
Pictures from these incidents started to appear in news outlets worldwide, and tourists drawn by the thrill of bomb-watching flocked to the area nearest the ground zero.
Many Las Vegas establishments hosted “Dawn Bomb Parties” on the eve of detonations. Starting at midnight, attendees would sip cocktails and sing until the bomb’s flash illuminated the night sky.
Vegas, however, also profited from the nuclear tests by offering itself as a haven of nostalgia and solace from the surrounding horror, in addition to these parties.
TV, games, and gambling were all diversionary activities that allowed visitors to Vegas to get away from the anxiety that was all around them.
Vegas and the Nevada Testing Site’s Yucca Flats were developed into a variety of tourist destinations. The vast craters that presently mar the desert’s surface are the site’s most striking feature as of right now.
Craters of all sizes and shapes, from smaller surface-level bombs to nuclear warheads, are strewn across the desert floor.
Bilby Crater is a well-known crater that was formed in 1963 during an underground test. The explosion, which produced an aftershock that was felt all the way in Vegas, left a hole 1,800 feet wide (550 meters) and 80 feet (24 meters) deep. It also produced about 249 kilotons of explosive power.
Because of its vastness, Sedan Crater is also well-liked. This crater, which is roughly 1280 feet (1280 meters) wide and 230 feet (70 meters) deep, was created by a 104 kiloton explosion that occurred directly beneath the desert floor.
Approximately 12 million tons of Earth were moved during its passage, in comparison to the effects of a 4.75 earthquake.
One reporter who saw the explosion and wrote for the Department of State Washington Bulletin said, “You put on the dark goggles, turn your head, and wait for the signal.” The bomb has now been detonated. After the allotted amount of time, you turn to look.
A magnificently brilliant cloud is rising like a massive umbrella. You prepare for the shock wave that comes after an atomic blast.
First comes a heat wave, followed by a shock powerful enough to bring down an unprepared man. After what seems like hours, the artificial sunburst disappears.
A total of 235 bombs were detonated over the course of twelve years, or one every three weeks. According to reports, the explosions’ powerful flashes could be seen as far away as Montana.
Scientists planned tests to coincide with weather patterns that blew fallout away from the city, claiming that the radiation’s harmful effects would have subsided and been harmless once the shock waves reached Las Vegas.
But as the tests went on, residents in southern Utah and northeastern Nevada started to complain that their livestock and pets were getting beta particle burns and other illnesses; as a result, in 1963 the site was prohibited from being used for above-ground nuclear testing.
